GOLYAZI

 

Golyazi (Gol ya zuh), a quaint, picturesque fishing village on a peninsula of Ulubat Lake, appears as if time stood still.  History dates this area to the 5th century BC, the ancient city of Apollonia ad Rhyndacum.  It was distroyed by wars in the 3rd century AD, but again acquired importance with the spread of Christianity.  It remained a Greek village until the War of Independence and the population exchange (1923).  The village consists of two hills.  The larger, called St. George Hill, is joined to the mainland by a narrow isthmus.  Remains of the ancient city are dotted throughout the countryside.

 Views of the "mainland" or the larger hill.

The second hill, which contains the "modern" city (new, modern, is all relative) was walled all around and became an island when the lake levels were high.  Today, it is connected by a bridge.  

 The connecting bridge, sometimes teeming with people, occasionally empty.

 Views to the "island" portion of the city from the mainland.

More ruins are visible on this second hill from walls to castle ruins, cobbled streets, and what had been a church or monastery that is currently being renovated.

 

While the plains are dotted with fig, peach and pear orchards, fishing is the main income of the village, more specifically, crayfish.  A lively fish auction is held on the shores weekly.

  

  Village life was busy and lively...

There were street vendors selling food, treats, shoes, fruit and vegetables, and that day there was a political rally for one of the candidates in the upcoming elections, so there was free food all around.  We were offered food so many times.

 Evidence of a busy village, clothes drying, rugs airing, tractors, small stores, fishing paraphernalia.

There was the "boss" rooster, a kitty parade, and flowers growing in unusual places.

Storks return here year after to year to nest, beginning in April

 

 

 

 

 Then there were the many faces of Golyazi...

 How about this baby swing; the ladies of the mosque or maybe the political party, serving part of the meal; picking up bread at the market; and enjoying an afternoon by the lake

 Friends chatting...possibly about their husbands????; bigger boys on the lake and little boys being boys jumping from rock to rock in the lake; a cute little lady who spoke to us from her window, but all we could respond to her welcome was 'merhaba' or 'hello', but she continued with the conversation.  And those precious girls loved practicing their English skills with us as we saw them multiple times on our wanderings.  They even shared some gum with us.  

 And this little cutie, Hasan, was walking with Buyukbaba and Buyukanne (Grandfather and Grandmother) and kept turning around and waving to us.

When you are finished exploring the 'modern' hill, you can cross the bridge back to the mainland and visit a tea house/restaurant located beside the sea and graced with an old sycamore tree in its courtyard.

You can check out the tree and you can even have Turkish tea with an amazing view of  not only Ulubat Lake, but Uludag.  What a perfect days outing, and only about 30 minutes from home.  I can see us having a meal here one of these summer evenings.